I'm a freelance writer and also a Mom who loves to cook. I like to find ways of mixing homestyle American cooking with healthy and international approaches, bowrrowing the best from each. My favorite things to cook are soups and stews. Hearty, soul-warming foods that fill the house with wonderful smells. Topping these lists are chicken soup, and beef stew. I like to cook with my daughters, ages 6 and 12 years. We like to pitch in together and make mexican feasts, with rice, "unfried" beans, and our healthy version of chimichangas with various fillings. YUM! I felt triumphant when I cooked a Christmas dinner for 14, featuring filet migon as the main course and apple pie for dessert. Everyone clearly enjoyed it. Another Christmas dinner, I made a lamb roast. My, but it was chewy! Everyone ate the Polish sausage side dish instead...